title: Cancer patients' experience of combined treatment with conventional and traditional Chinese medicine: a biopsychosocial phenomenon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is used worldwide as a complementary and alternative medicine, but little is known about cancer patients' experience when using combination therapy of TCM and conventional medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to understand the experiences of Taiwanese cancer patients undergoing conventional chemotherapy and using TCM at the same time.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this qualitative descriptive study, 9 cancer patients (42-63 years old) were interviewed individually and in depth using a semistructured guide. All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were concurrently collected and analyzed using a constant comparative method to develop major themes and categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis revealed 3 themes: (1) biomedical aspect: TCM as a supplementary force to conventional medicine, (2) psychological aspect: different beliefs about TCM create different TCM uses, and (3) social aspect: interactions among patients, physicians, and economic issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study reveals that the phenomenon of using TCM is captured in a biopsychosocial model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When assessing the issue of TCM use among cancer patients, healthcare providers must take into consideration its biological, psychological, and social aspects.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Woung-Ru
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hung Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ko Chen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents